DMN JJT: Dallas Cowboys may finally have the right attitude (Q&A)
By Jean Jacques Taylor
• E-mail
When you look at the Cowboys, more talent isn't what they need. They have enough of that.
No, this isn't a flawless team. All of them are flawed.
But this team has enough good players when they're focused on the same goal to end this wretched 12-season streak without a playoff win. What will get them over the hump is attitude.
Last year, they entered the season with way too much arrogance for a team that hadn't achieved anything of note in the postseason in more than a decade. Too many players figured their loss to the Giants was a fluke. They figured the personnel tweaks and talent would get them to the Super Bowl.
They were wrong.
They forgot how much effort and commitment it took to go 13-3 and win the NFC East. Maybe, last year's humbling finish has given them that attitude back.
They don't have to worry about being the favorites this year. Most experts will pick them third in the East behind New York and Philadelphia.
That's not bad.
Some teams, for whatever reason, are better as underdogs. Some teams don't handle the pressure that accompanies being the favorite.
This team seems to have a collective chip on its shoulder. Trust me, that's good news. Perhaps, they're ready to prove everyone wrong.
COWBOYS Q&A
Q: Interesting, isn't it, how the Wildcat formation became the rage while Mike Vick was in prison, and now people are looking for a running quarterback who has the threat of an arm to scare defenses in a special package? Funny how life works.
Russell Maybin, Temple, Texas
TAYLOR: I guess you could look at it that way. The Falcons, if you remember, did a lot of innovative things with Vick to get him the ball as a runner. They had designed runs and plays that gave him a run-pass option because he was such a fantastic athlete. Had he been playing last year, then I'm sure the Falcons would've incorporated it into their offense. And we all know whoever signs him will add it to their offense because of what he can do with the ball in his hands.
• • •
Q: I see everyone saying the Cowboys need to pick up a speedy receiver. I would like to know is there anyone available the Cowboys could sign? I have done some research, but I don't see anyone who will be released that they could get. Your thoughts.
Sidney Montgomery, Killeen, Texas
TAYLOR: It's still a little too early to project who will be cut by various teams because we don't know who's going to thrive in training camp or who's going to get hurt or who's not going to play well.
The one guy I still think they will add is former Jacksonville receiver Matt Jones. He was having a really good year until the league suspended him for the last three games for violating the substance abuse policy. He has good speed, pretty good hands and great size. The Cowboys are probably waiting to see if the commissioner suspends him at the start of the season before determining whether they want to sign him.
• • •
Q: Do you feel Roy Williams can be an elite receiver? Are there any intentions to seek out another receiver such as Anquan Boldin or will they likely go with who they have?
Brett James, Commack, NY
TAYLOR: I don't know. No one does. He's done it once – the year he made the Pro Bowl – when he caught 82 passes for 1,310 yards. He didn't play well last season, but there could have been so many factors that contributed his down year that it's hard to pinpoint exactly what went wrong. He doesn't have great speed – he's a long strider – but he has good hands and understands how to use his body. He's motivated to play well. We'll see if he can do it.
• • •
Q: You obviously don't think the Cowboys are a playoff team with your 8-8 prediction. So what position or positions would have to be upgraded in order for Dallas to become a 12-4 or 11-5 team in your opinion?
Bernard Henry
TAYLOR: You guys put way too much stock in records at this point of the year. Who cares? I said 8-8 on the NFL Network because my buddy Rich Eisen asked me. At that point, the schedule hadn't even come out.
Here's the deal: The Cowboys have enough talent to finish 11-5 or 12-4. I don't know, right now, whether they have the mental capacity to do it. They're a fragile team, and they could implode easily if they get off to a poor start because of the friction they're still working through after the way last season ended. They also have a long history of performing poorly in December. I don't have faith they will do it this year. I need to see it.
• • •
Q: I see another 9-7 season and a first-round pick between 18-21, but what's the position – receiver, safety, linebacker, offensive and defensive line.
Jonathan Hazel, Glen Allen, Va.
TAYLOR: Considering the guys the Cowboys just drafted last month haven't even had their first training camp, I don't know how you could even begin to think about next year's draft with any degree of certainty. We also don't know how this season will turn out. What could be a weakness at receiver this year could turn into a strength by the end of the season if Miles Austin becomes a terrific player and Patrick Crayton and Sam Hurd have excellent years. Sometimes, you have to wait to get a question answered. This is one of those times.
• • •
Q: If Dallas has a great offensive year but the team doesn't make the playoffs, do you see Jason Garrett as the next Cowboys head coach?
Todd Nelson
TAYLOR: I don't think so. If the Cowboys didn't make the playoffs or failed to win a playoff game, I would have a hard time believing the offense didn't play some role in that failure. If it did, then Jason Garrett would have to be accountable. If that's the case, then I don't know how he could get the job.
Maybe, if the Cowboys got off to a slow start and Jerry fired Wade, he could make Jason the interim and give it to him, if Dallas played well.
Just so you know, that's not Jerry's style. My guess, based on nothing right now, is that Mike Holmgren or Mike Shanahan will be the coach next season. But Wade can change all of that by taking this team deep in the playoffs. It's all in his control.
When you look at the Cowboys, more talent isn't what they need. They have enough of that.
No, this isn't a flawless team. All of them are flawed.
But this team has enough good players when they're focused on the same goal to end this wretched 12-season streak without a playoff win. What will get them over the hump is attitude.
Last year, they entered the season with way too much arrogance for a team that hadn't achieved anything of note in the postseason in more than a decade. Too many players figured their loss to the Giants was a fluke. They figured the personnel tweaks and talent would get them to the Super Bowl.
They were wrong.
They forgot how much effort and commitment it took to go 13-3 and win the NFC East. Maybe, last year's humbling finish has given them that attitude back.
They don't have to worry about being the favorites this year. Most experts will pick them third in the East behind New York and Philadelphia.
That's not bad.
Some teams, for whatever reason, are better as underdogs. Some teams don't handle the pressure that accompanies being the favorite.
This team seems to have a collective chip on its shoulder. Trust me, that's good news. Perhaps, they're ready to prove everyone wrong.
COWBOYS Q&A
Q: Interesting, isn't it, how the Wildcat formation became the rage while Mike Vick was in prison, and now people are looking for a running quarterback who has the threat of an arm to scare defenses in a special package? Funny how life works.
Russell Maybin, Temple, Texas
TAYLOR: I guess you could look at it that way. The Falcons, if you remember, did a lot of innovative things with Vick to get him the ball as a runner. They had designed runs and plays that gave him a run-pass option because he was such a fantastic athlete. Had he been playing last year, then I'm sure the Falcons would've incorporated it into their offense. And we all know whoever signs him will add it to their offense because of what he can do with the ball in his hands.
• • •
Q: I see everyone saying the Cowboys need to pick up a speedy receiver. I would like to know is there anyone available the Cowboys could sign? I have done some research, but I don't see anyone who will be released that they could get. Your thoughts.
Sidney Montgomery, Killeen, Texas
TAYLOR: It's still a little too early to project who will be cut by various teams because we don't know who's going to thrive in training camp or who's going to get hurt or who's not going to play well.
The one guy I still think they will add is former Jacksonville receiver Matt Jones. He was having a really good year until the league suspended him for the last three games for violating the substance abuse policy. He has good speed, pretty good hands and great size. The Cowboys are probably waiting to see if the commissioner suspends him at the start of the season before determining whether they want to sign him.
• • •
Q: Do you feel Roy Williams can be an elite receiver? Are there any intentions to seek out another receiver such as Anquan Boldin or will they likely go with who they have?
Brett James, Commack, NY
TAYLOR: I don't know. No one does. He's done it once – the year he made the Pro Bowl – when he caught 82 passes for 1,310 yards. He didn't play well last season, but there could have been so many factors that contributed his down year that it's hard to pinpoint exactly what went wrong. He doesn't have great speed – he's a long strider – but he has good hands and understands how to use his body. He's motivated to play well. We'll see if he can do it.
• • •
Q: You obviously don't think the Cowboys are a playoff team with your 8-8 prediction. So what position or positions would have to be upgraded in order for Dallas to become a 12-4 or 11-5 team in your opinion?
Bernard Henry
TAYLOR: You guys put way too much stock in records at this point of the year. Who cares? I said 8-8 on the NFL Network because my buddy Rich Eisen asked me. At that point, the schedule hadn't even come out.
Here's the deal: The Cowboys have enough talent to finish 11-5 or 12-4. I don't know, right now, whether they have the mental capacity to do it. They're a fragile team, and they could implode easily if they get off to a poor start because of the friction they're still working through after the way last season ended. They also have a long history of performing poorly in December. I don't have faith they will do it this year. I need to see it.
• • •
Q: I see another 9-7 season and a first-round pick between 18-21, but what's the position – receiver, safety, linebacker, offensive and defensive line.
Jonathan Hazel, Glen Allen, Va.
TAYLOR: Considering the guys the Cowboys just drafted last month haven't even had their first training camp, I don't know how you could even begin to think about next year's draft with any degree of certainty. We also don't know how this season will turn out. What could be a weakness at receiver this year could turn into a strength by the end of the season if Miles Austin becomes a terrific player and Patrick Crayton and Sam Hurd have excellent years. Sometimes, you have to wait to get a question answered. This is one of those times.
• • •
Q: If Dallas has a great offensive year but the team doesn't make the playoffs, do you see Jason Garrett as the next Cowboys head coach?
Todd Nelson
TAYLOR: I don't think so. If the Cowboys didn't make the playoffs or failed to win a playoff game, I would have a hard time believing the offense didn't play some role in that failure. If it did, then Jason Garrett would have to be accountable. If that's the case, then I don't know how he could get the job.
Maybe, if the Cowboys got off to a slow start and Jerry fired Wade, he could make Jason the interim and give it to him, if Dallas played well.
Just so you know, that's not Jerry's style. My guess, based on nothing right now, is that Mike Holmgren or Mike Shanahan will be the coach next season. But Wade can change all of that by taking this team deep in the playoffs. It's all in his control.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:12 PM
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